New VHSE curriculum next academic year

The department of Vocational Higher Secondary Education (VHSE), which conducts two-year courses, is planning to revamp its curriculum following the recommendations of the Lebba committee. VHSE director C K Mohanan said the framework of the new curriculum is being readied and it will be implemented from the next academic year.

He said that though there are takers for most courses, some like sericulture has lost its charm. “We have moved sericulture into agriculture course. Now we have begun updating all courses with the present day requirements of the industry. Courses like chemical factory plant operators, computer applications and computer sciences are being upgraded.

Several of the courses which are interrelated will be merged,“ he said.

While the vocational education is designed to prepare a skilled workforce for a cluster of industries or employment after matriculation, there has been criticism that the curriculum needs to be revised.

The Lebba committee report had recommended that the curriculum and syllabus of higher secondary courses, which have been in place for more than five years, should be revised under the supervision of the SCERT. In case of VHSE, curriculum and syllabus followed for over five years, should be revised and introduced from the next academic year onwards.